By Claude & Parth on 2026-04-09, City: Hamilton, View Transcript
The Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities met on April 7, 2026, to review accessible transportation performance, proposed changes to tactile walking surface indicators, and street furniture standards for the LRT corridor. Much of the discussion focused on the city’s proposal to replace Hamilton’s “urban braille” tactile warning system with provincial dome-style indicators. Delegates and committee members raised specific safety and usability concerns, including slipperiness, wheelchair access at curb cuts, and the loss of tactile guidance “along the entirety of the pathway.”
The committee reviewed the 2025 performance report on DART service. Staff reported that the Ontario Human Rights Commission settlement target was “5% maximum for denied trips,” and that denials were “1.2%” in 2019 and “2.7%” in 2025—“still below the 5% rate of denials which was the target,” according to Owen Quinn, Project Manager.
Committee member Mark questioned comparisons to earlier years, arguing the number of wheelchair-accessible taxis has dropped sharply: “In 2019 we had 40 plus wheelchair cabs on the road and right now we have what under 10.” He said that without comparable vehicle supply, performance comparisons risk being misleading: “If you’re not going to have that level of cabs on the road, then we’re talking about apples to oranges.”
The committee heard detailed objections to dome-style tactile indicators. Paula said, “The domes are dangerous. The domes are slippy. People can fall on them. They’re not good for wheelchairs.” Jake described difficulty navigating curb cuts with domes, saying he has “numerous times” been unable to “safely get up the curb cut because of the domes,” and has been “stuck in the middle of an intersection” when his momentum stopped. He added that “when they’re wet, it’s even worse cuz then they’re slippery.”
Another speaker said the change would push them off sidewalks entirely: “I know that if button plates go on these sidewalks, I’m going to be on the road. You won’t see me on the sidewalks anymore, which means cars are going to have to drive around me on the road now because I don’t feel safe on the sidewalks.”
Tim criticized moving away from Hamilton’s approach of continuous tactile guidance, saying, “One of the things that’s associated with urban braille is the tactile markings along the entirety of the pathway,” and questioned why the city would limit tactile markings “as opposed to just at the corners.” He also raised an accessibility issue with how information was presented during the meeting: “I’m pretty sure Paula can’t see the pictures and I know I certainly can’t see the pictures. So that information is kind of difficult.”
Staff noted that members of the public have been comparing Hamilton’s approach to other municipalities. Susan Jacob, Manager of Design, said, “Members of the public are observing that it’s different in city of Hamilton than in all the other municipalities.”
Committee members pushed back on the idea that being different means being wrong. Levi said, “We are the foremost experts when it comes to our disability,” adding that “just the fact that the province is different from us from Hamilton that doesn’t make them better. Never did and it never will.”
Tim argued Hamilton has a long history in tactile accessibility design: “Hamilton was unique. Hamilton was the very first community to have any kind of tactile markings on any sidewalk anywhere, not only in this province, but across the entire country.” He said that history matters when evaluating whether to replace the existing system.
The committee also reviewed street furniture standards for the LRT corridor, including bench and bicycle stand designs. Staff discussed bench options and why some were not preferred. Anna said, “We found that the Riverside bench is quite heavy. It has that older historic look that did not meet our criteria for appearance,” and that other models “seem to offer the most benefits.”
Paula raised concerns about heat retention and burns from materials and colours, warning: “Somebody’s going to sit down and they’re going to put their arm on a metal armrest and they’re going to get burnt. Same if somebody’s wearing shorts and you’re going to sit on plastic.”
Early in the meeting, the committee approved the agenda as amended after a delegation was withdrawn: “There is a withdrawal of the delegation item 6.1.”
Present: - James Kemp (Chair) - Leaf Johansson - Levi Janosce - Paula Kilburn - Mark McNeel - Tim Nolan - Councillor Mark Tatterson
Absent: - Cara Hernold - Hargan Carr - Jake Maurice - Kim Nolan - Robert Westbrook